Well fishing tool



Nov. 13,1923.

. 1,474,232 C. A. BRUST, JR

.WELL FISHING TOOL Filed Nov. 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Witwe 2 2 3 t nl, .m A., S 7 Y A. ,h 1.

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1,474,232 PATENT oFi-ica CHARLES A. BRUST, JB., 0E EL DORADO, ARKANSAS.

WELL FISHING TOOL.

Application led November invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

This invention relates to what may be conveniently termed a combination well tool due to the fact that it is capable of serving two separate uses, namely. as a well fishing tool and as a tubing catcher.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide a unique tool of this class which embodies, among other details, a tubular carrier for a plurality of friction balls, a cone for forcing these balls into tight engagement with a casing, tubing, or other implement to be removed from the well, and spring means for floating this carrier and disposingit in a position to insure a rapid and positive grip of the balls.

More specifically, it is another object of the invention to provide a unique tubingy catcher for permanent installation in the well. the same embodying a coupling for two of the sections of the tubing and this cou-y pling having a portion of its exterior designed to form a conical expander for friction balls which are supported in a floating position by a unique means which insures a rapid and effective grip of the balls with the conical expander and stationary well casing to prevent dropping of the tubing should it become accidentally disconnected from the hoisting means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification and in which like numerals are employed to designatev like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a tool constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same in a gripping position at the center of a section of the well casing to prevent dropping of the tubing.

Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken on the Fig. 3 isaviewlike Fig. 1,.showi`ng the will e, i922. serial No. 599,357.' p

parts inverted to disclose the manner of using the tool for fishing.

ig. 4 isl a vertical section similar to Fig..

8, showing'a different position of the tool when used for the last named purpose.

F ig.` 5 is a horizontal section taken on the .line 5-5 of Fig. 3. As before intimated, the invention resides ina combination tool which provides either al fishing tool or a well tubing catcher. As particular' emphasisis to be laid on the use 4of the tool forcatching'tubing, the detailed description will first be confined to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

By directing attention to these figures, it be seen that the letter C designates the usual stationarywell casing and A refers generally to the'tubing in which the usual plunger (not shown) is slidable. ,As customary, the tubing is composed of a plurality of lengths or sections .S. Asis well known, the entire tubing in a well must be frequently removed forthe purpose of repairing the pipes and other parts of the plunger. As the tubing is of considerable length and extremely heavy, it often happens that the hoisting' means fails to operate and the tubing is accidentally dropped into the well, thus crushing the sections and practically destroying the entire well.` In view of this disadvantage it is manently install unique means in thewell which is such as to absolutely prevent the tubing from dropping inthe event that it is accidentally released by the hoisting means.

As seen, the preferred structure comprises al comparatively large coupling 11 which is connected'with -the adjacent ends of two of the sections of the tubing-as illustrated. In practice, any number of such couplings may be used. Each coupling is preferably a heavy casting and in order-to permit it to function in the manner described, it is formed on its exterior adjacent one end with a substantially conical portion 12 which constitutes an expander. screw-threaded at its opposite ends to permit connection of the sections S of the ltubing and is decreased in diameter intermediate its ends to provide a shoulder 13 against which the inner ends of the sections of the tubing abut. The intermediate diameter of,` the coupling is the Hsame as that of the internal diameter of the tubing. As before intimated, a plurality offrictionvgripping balls 14 are used in .connection `'with the` expander proposed to per-y The coupling is internallyl lil' l seen,

cone 12 and they are supported in a position to be in constant contact therewith through the inedii'un of a substantially cup-shaped carrier l which is formedv at its upper end with a. plurality 'of circuinferentially spaced openingsll in which the balls are positioned.. The walls of theseveral openings are inclined as shown'to limit the outward movement of the balls.` The lowerV end of the carrier is flattened as indicated at i6 and one end of a lco'iled spring l? abuts this liattened end. The spring 'i7 surrounds the section of the ltubing as shown and the opposite end thereof abuts a small and conventional coupling 18; rlhe tension of this spring is such as to support the carrier and balls in a floating position which is such as to renderthe balls readily susceptible to gripping the conical expander at the inner wall of the well chamber in the event that the tubing accidentally falls.

Vln practice, one or more of the devices is installed in the well at the time of construction and permanently left in position so that they' will come into play in the event that the tubing should be accidentally lost' while hoisting itto make repairs. lt is clearly obvious that should the' tubing drop, the coupling 1l will move downwardly while the ball carrier will momentarily remain stationary, due to the tendency'of the spring 17 to expand. This being the case, the conical expanding surface l2 will' act on the friction balls lll to vforce them radially outward and into tight frictional engagement with the inner wall of the well casing. Since the latter is stationary, itis evident that further descent of the tubing will be prevented.

Referring now to Figs. 4l to 6, wherein another use of the invention is illustrated, it

'wilt be seen that the numeral l designates generally a longitudinally bored body formed at its lower end with a conical portion 2 which serves apurpose to be hereinafter described. VThreaded into the opposite ends ofthe bore of this body are pipes 3 and4-respectively5 the upper one'of which constitutes ai guide for an inverted cup-like carrierev 5 which is slidable thereon. As the lower end of this carrier is equipped circumferential openings 6 through which lfriction balls or the like 7 are projected through the ymedium of the aforesaid cone 2.

The openings are of such design as to limit the out'wardexpansion of the balls.y

Although thecarrier 5 could itself serve to move theballs 6 downwardly on the conical surface 2 to eXpa-ndthem into engagement with the tubing T, it is' desiredto provide means whichwill assistin accomplishing this end so astoinsure positive action of the'b'alls.` The' preferredmeans comprises av lcoiled spring 8 which surrounds the aforesaidv pipe-:4 betweenthe'fclosed end ofthe carrier and a coupling 9 which is with a: plurality of closely spacedy connected with the upper 'end vof the The coupling is thus permitted to function as a shoulder for the spring and also asmeans for permitting connection of the lowering pipe 10. Y Y

ln operation, the tool is lowered into the well bythe Ausual lowering means which is connected with the coupling 9 as before in ferred, Since the tool is especially dev signed for gripping tubes and casings, it will be seen that as it enters the upper end of the tube, the edge of the latter will serve to litt the carrier 5 against theY action of the spring in a manner to permit the gripping balls 7 to move inwardly.'` Then, the 'toolv will slip freely down through the tubeV to the desired point; As soon as the tool-is lifted, the conical surface body will serve to force the balls outward-ly through the openings 6 into, frictional en-V gagement with the inner wall of the tubing T. Hence, the tool willbe locked tothe latter and the removal effected. -ttention' is directed to the fact that the spring,` as before indicated, insures positive engagement of the friction balls withthe tubing. Attention is further called to the fact thaty in some instances it will be desirable to force the tool entirely through the tubing so that the balls will engage the lower end of. the latter as shown in Fig. l, this being done to obtain a more effective grip.v e

F rom the foregoing description and drawings, it is evident that I haveevolved and produced a unique tool for use in wells for removing casings and other tubular members, the sainer being such that it can be readily lowered into the element; to bere` moved to grip it at any desired point'. Not only'is the weight of the ball carrier depended upon to force the balls` into enn gageniient with the tubing, but a springl is employed to act in conjunction therewith to insure a positive' grip Vof the balls by exerting a downward pressure on the carrier. Furtherinore,ivhen theparts are inverted as illustrated in-thefirst two figures of the drawings, the tool is capable of being thus effectively used'for the purpose of preventing tubing from drop-ping as clearly described. Particular emphasis is to be again laid on the aforesaid spring' which serves lto support the ball carrier in a floating state or in a position where the balls are readily susceptible to obtaining an ef- These and other advantages and featuresiof the invention have doubtless been made apparent and for thisreason ay more lengthy description is deemed unnecessary.

Since prob bly the best result Vvay'ble ob- 2 of the aforesaid i tained with the construction and arrangef nient herein shown: and described, tliis is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to yif desired.

I claim l. A well fishing tool comprising a. longitudinally bored body formed at one end with a conical portion, pip-ing threaded into said bore, said piping constituting a guide, a coupling associa-ted with the piping, said coupling constituting a shoulder, a carrier slidable on the piping andl surrounding said body, said carrier being formed with openings at one end, friction balls disposed in said openings and adapted to contact said conical portion of the body, and a spring surrounding a portion of the piping between the carrier and coupling for exerting pressure on the carrier to insure an effective grip of the balls on the part to be remo-ved lfrom the well.

2. A tubing catcher comprising a bored body adapted to be connected at its opposite ends to the adjacent spaced ends of two sections of piping of the tubing, said body being formed with an expanding conical surface, friction gripping balls in Contact with said surface, and a substantially tubular carrier for said balls surrounding the aforesaid body and provided with circum ferentially spaced apertures in which the balls. are arranged, said carrier being adapted to be slidably mounted on the tub ing. i

3. A well tubing catcher comprising a comparatively large coupling' for connecting the sections gether, said coupling having a portion of its exterior shaped to provide a substantially conical expander having' its smallest end disposed downwardly, a substantially cupshaped ball carrier closed and flattened at of the piping in the tubing toone end, said carrier being provided at its i open end with a row of circumferentially spaced openings, friction gripping balls arranged in said openings and adapted to be projected therethrough to grip a stationary well casing, said balls being in rolling contact with said expander, and a spring for acting on the lower fiat end of said carrier for supporting the latter in a substantially floating state to render the balls susceptible to readily gripping the well casing when acted on by said expander.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES A. BRUST, JR. 

